XN000022-1992-04-24 — Page 16

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1992

* SUPPLEMENTS TO COVER PERSONAL NEEDS ARISING OUT OF THE

CLIENT'S PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES: WHETHER CHILDREN, ELDERLY, DISABLED, OR ON LONG-TERM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. CHILD SUPPLEMENT IS AT 25 PER CENT OF THE BASIC RATE AND THOSE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED ARE AT 50 PER CENT. HOWEVER, IF DISABILITY IS SEVERE, PAYMENT WILL BE INCREASED, UNDER SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE, TO 100 PER CENT OR 200 PER CENT;

* RENT ALLOWANCE TO COVER ACTUAL RENT UP TO A PRESCRIBED CEILING ($743 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, $1,718 FOR A FAMILY OF THREE TO FOUR MEMBERS, AND SO ON);

* SPECIAL GRANTS TO COVER VARIOUS NEEDS ON INDIVIDUAL CASE BASIS, SUCH AS ESSENTIAL TRAVELLING, SCHOOL FEES, TEXT-BOOKS AND STATIONERY, SCHOOL UNIFORMS (INCLUDING TWO PAIRS OF SHOES), SPECTACLES, SPECIAL DIET ($270-$525), DENTURES AND SO ON EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL DIETS, ALL ARE PAID ACCORDING TO THE ACTUAL COST REQUIRED BY THE CLIENTS.

"THE COMBINATION OF A BASIC SUM FOR ALL, PLUS SPECIAL GRANTS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLIENTS, MEANS THAT THE SYSTEM CAN BE BOTH EFFICIENT AS WELL AS SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO MEET VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES," SHE ADDED.

IN THE MEETING, MRS GOODSTADT ALSO OUTLINED THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.

EXTENSION OF MARINE SPOIL GROUND OFF CHEUNG CHAU

*

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS AUTHORISED THE EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING MARINE SPOIL GROUND SOUTH OF CHEUNG CHAU IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE MARINE MUD TO BE DREDGED FROM VARIOUS RECLAMATION PROJECTS, IN PARTICULAR, THE NEW AIRPORT AND ITS CORE PROJECTS.

THE EXISTING SPOIL GROUND HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1988. AT THE PRESENT RATE OF DUMPING IT WILL SOON REACH ITS FULL DISPOSAL CAPACITY.

IN ORDER TO MAKE PROVISION FOR FORECAST DUMPING NEEDS AND ALSO TO ALLOW GOVERNMENT FLEXIBILITY IN ITS PLANNING OF DUMPING ACTIVITIES, THE EXISTING SPOIL GROUND HAS TO BE EXTENDED.

THE EXTENDED MARINE SPOIL GROUND WILL INVOLVE ABOUT 1,380 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED TO THE WEST OF THE EXISTING SPOIL GROUND.

ALTHOUGH THE EXTENSION WILL ENLARGE THE GAZETTED AREA, IT IS NOT INTENDED THAT THE WHOLE AREA WILL BE USED FOR DUMPING AT ANY TIME.

ONE

/UNDER CONTROLS